OBITUARY

Johnnie Rufus Grantham

April 14, 1931 – March 4, 2018

Johnnie Rufus Grantham, SGM, Retired United States Army, peacefully passed away on March 4, 2018 after a brief battle with cancer. He fulfilled his desire to return to Florida, the home of his childhood, when he and his wife, Mary, settled in Palm Coast three years ago. He was able to enjoy living in their new home until shortly before his death.
He was born on April 14, 1931 in Hamilton County, Jasper, FL to Emory and Nellie (Hurst) Grantham. He joined the United States Army in 1949 and received basic training in Fort Jackson, SC. His Army career and service include Panama Canal Zone, Fort Benning, GA, Germany (two tours of duty), Ft. Hood, TX, Niagara Falls, NY and Vietnam (two tours of duty).
SGM Grantham’s military honors, medals and citations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal with ’60 device, Overseas Bar (2), Bronze Star with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Good Conduct Medal 5th Award, Vietnam Summer-Fall Campaign 1969 and Vietnam Winter-Spring Campaign 1970. Following his service in Vietnam, he voluntarily retired from the U.S. Army.
He served as an instructor at Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, MO until 1972 and JROTC instructor at Southwest High School, Kansas City, MO from 1973 to 1986. He earned a Bachelor of General Studies from the University of Kansas (KU) in 1980.
SGM Grantham was preceded in death by his parents, Nellie and Emory Grantham, sisters, Leona (James) Pagliuca, Georgia (Richard) Reigel and a brother Laverne (Irene) Grantham.
He is survived by his wife , Mary Rogers-Grantham, Palm Coast, FL, three children, Robert (Denise) Grantham, Alexandria, VA, Lillian (Michael) Chancey, Kansas City, MO and Yolanda(Robert) Girouard, Springfield, VA; one brother, Francis Drew Grantham, Jasper, FL; and a host of loving nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren and friends.
SGM Grantham was a brave and loyal soldier, as well as a loving husband; father, brother, uncle, grandfather and friend. He was always willing to lend a helping hand whenever needed.

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